Letter-box



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--SheetV 1.

E. B. GRIFFIN.

LETTER BOX.

No. 465,524.' l Patented 1360.22, 1891.

(No Model.) s'sheets-.sheet 3.'

E. B. GRIFFIN.

K LETTER B0X'. No. 465,524. PatevntedDeo. 22, 1891.

fue? 3,1/ A f//l Si UNFTF 'Ferns AFFNT OFFICE.

fnnnnr n. GRIFFIN, oF sr. JosPI-L'Missount.

LETTER-Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,524, dated December22, 1891.

Application file d .Tune 23, 1891.

Serial No. 397,224. (No model.) i

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EMERY B. GRIFFIN, of St. Joseph, Buchanan county,Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `MailBoxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to inail-boxes whichy are designed to be used atresidences, offices, stores, and other similar locations; and theobjects of my invention are toproducea mailbox which shall be simple,durable, ornamental, and inexpensive in construction, and by means ofwhich the collection and delivery of mail-matter, as well as the variousother features of the business, shall be greatly expedited andfacilitated.

A further object of my invention is to produce a mail-box which shallsecurely protect the mail-matter against injury by the weather and alsoagainst all possible loss by thieves or other dishonest persons.

A still further object of my invention is -to produce means whereby thepostman and the occupant of the residence, ofiice, store, or

other place can readily signal to each other when either desires tocommunicate personally with the other, thus avoiding all annoying delaysin finding the person to be communicated with.

To the above'purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar andnovel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter describedand claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with l reference to the accompanying drawings, in.

which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the single form of mail-boxembodying my invention. Figx is a centraltransverse vertical section ofthe same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa front elevation of the doubleform of mail-box embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a transverse verticalsection of the same on the line 44 of Fig. Fig. 5 is ahorizontalcross-section of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. G is a sideelevation of the upper part of a mail-box provided with my improvedsignaling apparatus. Fig.7isadetachedperspectiveofoneof the tubes forreceiving rolls and similar mailmatter. Fig. S isacentral longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view of the upperpart of a modified form ofthe roll-holder. Fig. 10 is a detachedperspective View of one form of the drop-plate. Fig. 11 is a similarview of another form of dropplate. Fig. 12 is a detached perspectiveview of the looking-plate. Fig. 13 comprises two detached perspectiveviews of one form of the closing-caps for the roll-holders. Fig. 14ccomprises two perspective'views of a modified form of closing-cap forthe roll-holder.

I will first proceed to describe the single form of the mail-box, thenthe double form of the box, then the roll-holders, the signalingdevices, and iinally the several details of construction embodied in myinvention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates the easingof the single mail-box, saidcasing being of vertical elongated form, preferably rectangular at itslower end, and constructed, preferably, of metal, although the` body ofthe box may be of any other suitable or preferred material. The rear ofthis box is preferably closed by a backing-piece 2, which is stronglyunited at its ends and sides to the sides and to the upper and lowerends of the front of the body portion, as shown. The upper portion 3 ofthe front of the box curves upward and rearward and the lower part 4 ofthis portion 3 -curves outward and, downward, as shown. Across the frontof the box, immediately. be-

'low the terminus of the outwardly and downwardly curved portion 4, isformed a horizontal slit or opening 5, and from the lower margin of thisopening or slit the front of the boxv extends downward a short distance,as shown at 6.y The front of the box is permanently closed from itslower'end to a point some distance above said lower end, as shown -haspof a suitable padlock 14,'by means of which the door 9 is retainedsecurelyinclosed ICO position until a person authorized to unlock thepadlock desires to do so and thus open the door. The upper margin ofthis retainingplate 13 is connected to the lower margin of the closedportion G of the box-bodyby a suitable hinge 15, and this hinge, as'also the p hinge 8, may be either of the precise forni shown or anyother type which will respectively'permit a free gravity action oftheretaining-plate and a ready opening of the door, and at the same timesecurelj7 connect the plate and door to the adjacent parts of theV box.'The upper portion 2O of this retainingplate 13 extends inward at rightangles from the body portion, and this latter. upwardlyextending portionthus lies against the inner su'rface'of the portion 6 of the box-front'and Ais also Inade heavy, vso as to cou'nterbalance the body of theplate 'and'to throw said plate loutward andupward automatically'as soonas ingflthesides of the casing. Th Outer-'part 18ct this tilting .andclosingpl'a'te isenlarged in suchia manner as 'to 'counterbalance theinner part of Ithe Aplate and `to retain rthe vl'at-v ter in'elevatedposition,` and the form ofthis `lon'ia'rgggo'd portion is oooh as 'toloa-vo at 4its outer marginan outwardly-projectinglip or Hanger 19, fora purpose to be .presently explaine'd. Y I

. Upon #the 'innersidesof the casiugjof the box isse'cured a falsebacking-piece 21,the

` sitios ofsaid'baokingpiooohaviogf1angos57,

s. "rests against the upper part ofthe'b'ack'2,'and

ftiirough whioharopassodrivots osos shown. The upper edge of 'this falsebacking-piece'll preferably extends upward ftotheupper'end loi" saidbacking V2, and 'thelow'er'edge' of said "false Lback is also preferablysuitablysecured totho inn'o'r sui-face of thel lower 'portion voftheyfront "25 of the box. From its uppervend 4"thisfalse'back21 curves:gradually` downward fand outward to an integralforwardly-projectingV-shaped'portion 22, for a purpose to'be the lower 4:part of thisV-shaped portion v422 'the false backing 'extends A`downward for a,short distance in contact'u-'ith the inner surv'face of the truebacking 2, and from this point `the `falsevbacking curves graduallydownward ",andfo'rward to the vdescribed connection of itslow'er'edgevwith the front portion 7 'ofthe zbox-noot. This' box is shown as`so'ourooi to na wall or door orothe'r preferred 'vertical portion 23 ofa building b'yione'or /iore screws 24, roquivaiont dovicospassingthrough tho lupper part of the backing 2,and -1t is to beprefsontly'explained. At theterinination of understood that thesefastening devices may also pass through other portions of the backing ofthe box in any desired part thereof, so as to iirmly secure the box tothe support 23.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a double form of mail-box, which alsoembodies in its construction the essential principles of my invention.The upper portion of this box is constructed precisely like the singlebox just described, and similar parts of these two structuresv aredesignated with like numerals for referencethat is to say, the rearportion of this double'box is closed at its upper part by abacking-piece 2 and is provided with a false backing-piece 2l, asbefore. This false backing-piece is provided, also, with the flangedsides 57, through which Vpass the rivets 58, which secure the falsebacking "to the sides ofthe :box-body, as before, and the said falselbacking-piece"is'formed near its upper end with a forwardly -projecting'V -s'haped :portion 22,and curves thence, after havin-g'extended somedistance in contact with the 4backing 2, graduallyfdown-Ward andlforward until'its lower end cornes into contact with and Vis secured invthis instance to the inner 4surface of the portion 25, hereinafter vdeyThe upper 'partiolf the front of this box Lis also for-ined rwith theupwardly and rearwardly curved portion Y 3,and 'beneath said portion A3`-said 'front is formed'withthe outwardlyan'd down- -wardly curvedportion 4,"beneathwhich is the transverse slit'or opening 5.Within-thisslit oropening is locatedthe'tilti'ng and/closing plate16,'which i'ssecured therein bythe "pivvvotal'connection17,entering thesides yof 4the box-body, as before. This'tiltingfandclosing plate lis,as before, 4provided :at its outer portion with an enlargement '18,which'co'unter- IOC balances'the'innfer portion/of thetilti'ng'andclosing`plate,"sothat its'inner surfacestands Iiorn'iallyadjacentto'theinner surfaceof'the ment'is of such a shape'as-to form thelip orfiange 19, before described. The door` 9 v`is likewise here employed andEis A'connected at its lowerfmargin to the |uppermargin'of the portion7fb'ya suitable hin-geSQand ythe upper portion of Vthisdoorfislals'of'providedwith ja'stap'le 10,fwhioh is designed to passl throughthe operiingl1-2of'the retaining-plate 13. LInthisinstan'cetheiplate (13A`is also lsecured at its upper part to the portion 6 of thefrontbyasuitable hingelyand its upper'margin 20e`xtends'inward at `rightangles and then upward'a'nd i's-e'n'larged to vcounterbal'an'ce the bodyvportion'of :the plate 13, as before.

In 'this .present'instance however, the true back'2 of the box isextended downward to a noticeable distance, andthe'lower partof theportion 7 of "the front Ais v:curved downward IIO y26, and from Ythelower margin of this slit or opening extendsdownwardly for somedistan-ce a closed portion 27. From the extreme padlock for retainingthe door in closed position. It will thus be seen that, while the boxshown in Figs. 1 and 2 has but a single compartment, the box now beingdescribed is provided with two compartments located the one beneath theother.

Vithin the slit or opening.26 is located a second tilting and closingplate 33, which is secured in said opening by a pivotal connec-v tion34, entering the sides of the box. The outer portion of this tilting andclosing plate is enlarged so Vas to couuterbalance the body -portion ofsaid plate, and thus retain said body portion normally inupwardlyeinmargin 20, and the user opens the door 9 and clined position,with its inner surface in engagement with the lower surface of the lowerpart of the false backing 21 at the point ofthe attachment of the latterto the portion 25 of the box-front, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 4.

The operations of the boxes above described are as follows:A When thepostman wishes to deposit mail matter in the box shown in Figs. 1 and 2,he: thrusts the mail-matter into the slit or opening 5, pushing themail-matter against the tilting and closing plate 16, such mail-matterbeing pushed upward and entering the box above the projection 22. Viththe same hand with which he inserts the mail-matter the carrier nowlifts the outery portion 1S of the closing plate 16 upward, so as tobring the lip or flange 19 of the closing plate into contact with themargin of the projecting portion 4 of the box. This movement throws thebody or inner portion of the closing plate 16 downward, as shown in.dotted lines in Fig. 2, and permit-s the mail-matterl to drop past thetilting and closing plate 1 6 and V-shaped portion 22 of the falsebacking 21 andto fall into the lower part of the box. As soon as thepostman releases the plate it automatically resumes its normal upwardposition, closing the slit 5. Now when the occupant of the building orapartment whichis served by the box desires to obtain his mail heunlocks the padlock 14 with a suitable key, as 36, and draws the hasp ofthe padlock out of the staple 10. As soon as this is done theretaining-plate opens outwardly automatically by the action of theweighted upper removes tle mail-matter from the box, subsequentlyclosing the door, depressing the outer part of the retaining-plate 13,and securing the two with the padlock.

The operation of the upper parts of the box shown in Figs. 3 and 4 isvirtually the same as that just described; but in this instance theoccupant of the building or apartment'inserts his mail into the slit oropening 5, pressing'it against the tilting and closing plate and causingthe mail-matter to enter upwardly, and then depresses the plate 16,tilting and closing, allowing the mail-matter to drop past the plate 16,as before, and finally releasing the tilting and closing plate 16 andallowing it to automatically resume its normal upward position. Thepostman, desiring to obtain the occupants inail, unlocks the door 9, theretaining plate swinging outward automatically, as before, and allowingthe door 9 to be opened, so as to permit -the removal ofthe mail-matterin the box. The postman now closes the door 9 and-locks the same. Inthis instance when the postman desires to deliver mail for the occupantof the building or apartment he inserts the mailmatter into the openingor slit 26 in the lower part of the box, pushing the vmail -matteragainst the plate 33, so as to operate the same, and then with the sainehand lifts the outer portion 35 of the tilting and'closing plate-33upward, so as to depress the inner portion of said plate, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 4, and allowing the mail-matter to drop past theplate 33 into the bottom of the lower compartment of the box.

IOO

scribed is that which is the more advanta` geous for rapid and easydelivery by the postman, as well as equally con venient for the occupantof the building or apartment.

f. In Fig. 10 I have shown the tilting and closing plate 16 as providedlwith two 'recesses or cavities 56, through the outer end of each ofwhich is inserted `a rivet 57, the outer part of which passes into theside of the box at the point shown at 17 in Fig. 2. The plate'33 (shownin Fig. 11) may obviously be provided with similar cavities and rivets,and by virtue of such construction the insertionand attachment of theplates are greatly facilitated and as strong a connection is made ashasbeen previously described.

Upon one side of the box shown in Figs. l and 2 is mounted a tubularreceptacle 37, which is designed to receive rolled mail-matter, such asnewspapers in wrappers,.draw ings,plans, &c., and the upper end of whichis closed by'a cover or cap 38. Thiscoveror cap is secured at one sideto the upper part of the door 9, as shown at 39. The box shown in Figs.3 and 4 is provided with two of these receptacles, one of which islocated at either side of the box. rIhe precise constructioniof thesereceptacles will be clearly understood by reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9in connection with the ensuing description. Each of these receptaclesmay be provided near one end with an integral flange 40, the outersurface of which inclines inwardly, and the purpose of which is topermit the roll to be inserted past the fiauge and inwardly through thereceiving end of the receptacle and to prevent the withdrawal of theroll exceptingr through the discharge end of the receptacle, aspresently described. These receptacles may also Iloe each provided atone end with a longitudinal opening or recess 4l, formedin one side ofthe receptacle, and this recess may be either y at the upper or lowerend of the recept-acle,

prevented from dropping out of the lower en-d.

of the receptacle 37 N ow when the occu pant of the apartment orbuilding opens the door 9, as before described, to obtain his mail thecap 38 will be carried by the door off of the upper end of thereceptacle, and thus permit the occupant to draw the roll out throughthe upper end of the receptacle. In this instance the upper end of thereceptacle is preferably provided at its upper end with the recess 4l,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, thus facilitating the withdrawal ofthe roll. The lefthand receptacle 37 in Fig. 3 may be the receptacleinto which the occupant of the building or apartment places the roll tobe taken out by the postman, and in this event the lower part of thereceptacle is provided with the inverted flange 40, as just described,the lower end of the receptacle being closed by the cap 33, which inthis instance is connected to the lower door 30 of the box. In thisinstance the upper end of the receptacle is closed by a cap 42, Vwhichis secured to the upper door 9, and which, in case the upper end of thereceptacle is provided with the recess 4l, is provided with adownwardlyextending face-plate 43, covering the recess 4l and providedwith a slight opening 43a. Now when the occupant is taking his mail fromthe box he willuncover the upper end of Athe left-hand receptacle 37when he opens the door 9 and Acan then insert a roll into the upper endof tlze receptacle. While the carrier is collecting the mail from thebox he will, by opening` the lower door 30, uncover the lower end of thereceptacle, and if by looking through the opening 43a he discovers aroll in the receptacle he can readily remove the roll from the lower endof the receptacle. The receptacle 37 at the'right-hand side of the boxmay have its upper end closed by aweighted lid 44, that closesautomatically, and which is hinged, as at 45, to the corresponding sideof the box. In this event the lower end of this receptacle is closed bya cap 38, which is secured to the lower door 30; and it will be seenthat when the postman delivers mail hc will, if he have a roll todeliver, lift the lid and drop the ro'll into the upper end of thereceptacle, the flange 40 being at the upper'end of the receptacle. Whenthe occupant is obtaining his mail, he

will, by opening the lower door 30, uncover the lower end of thereceptacle, and can thus readily remove the roll through such lower end.In this instance the sight-opening 43 is preferably p laced orformed-near the lower end of the right-hand receptacle. If desired, thecap 42 may be located at the lower end of the receptacle 37.

As shown in Fig. 9, the receptacle 37 may be square or angular in form,insteadot cylindrical, as shown in other iigures of the drawin-gs, andin this event the ,flange 40 is of correspondingly angular form, insteadof circular form, as before. Y

In order to securely attach the mail-box to its support 23 and toprevent the box from being stolen bodily, I preferably attach the box bymeans of strong screws 56, whichlie between the sides of the box and thereceptacles 37, the backing 2 being turned outward against the sides ofthe box, as shown 4at 56a, and the outer parts of the screws beingconcealed between the sides of the box and the outturned parts of theback 2. Thus it will be seen that the screws are effectually coucealedand protected against surreptitious removal. The receptacles 37 are alsopreferably secured to the box by rivets or screws 57, which pass throughthe sides of the box and the outturned portions 56a of the back 2, andalso through the adjacent sides of the receptacles. It will thus thus beseen that the attaching devices of these receptacles are effectuall yconcealed from view and their surreptitious removal rendered impossible.

The box shown in Figs. l and 2 is shown as provided with a U-shapedspring 45, the lower ends of which are formed with coils 46 IOO IIO'

and the extremities of which are inserted rearr ably secured in verticalposition to the upper message.

ends of the sides of the box. In either instance the spring presses uponthe front of the box and loose newspapers can be inserted between thespring and the front of y the box and will be retained securely by thespring until removed.

In Figs. l and 6 I have shown a signalingv attachment, by means of whichthe postman can communicate with the occupant or the occupant with thepostman when the business of either with the other requires a personalmeeting of the two. lar metal strap or hanger, which is secured to oneside of the box by screws or rivets 53, or equivalent devices, and 54designates a screw or rivet, which is inserted through the front end ofthe strap or hanger and which enters the side of the box. Upon thisscrewor rivet 54 are pivoted a number of plates 49, preferably of differentlengths, and provided with outwardly-turned corners 55. It is intendedto'designate these plates by diftere`nt colors, each color to signify aparticular there are four of these plates, as shown, and that saidplates are colored, respectively, red, yellow, blue, and white, now ifthe carrier or postman has delivered the wron g mail the occupant movesthe red plate into horizontal position; if the occupant is to leave townand desires the delivery of mail to cease until further notice, the blueplate is moved into horizontal position; if the occupant desires tospeak personally to the postman for any purpose, the yellow plate ismoved into horizontal position, and when the carrier desires tocommunicate personally with the occupant--as, for example,\whendelivering a registered letter-he moves the white plate into horizontalposition.

From the above description it will be seen that I have produced amail-box which is simple, durable, and ornamental in construction, andby means of which all the business connected with the delivery,collection, receipt, and dispatch of mail-matter is greatly facilitated,Vand by meansv of which also the mailmatter is fully protected againsttheft or injury by the weather.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- l. An improved mail-box comprisingabody portion or receptacle having aslit or opening in its front, a tilting plate located in said slit oropening and having an enlarged counterbalancing outer portion, and abacking-piece having a forwardly-extending angular portion, adjacent towhich the inner edge 4S designates an align- Thus, for example, assumingthata pair of slits or openings in the front of the casing andcommunicating with the upper and lower compartment, respectively, a pairof tilting plates located one in each 'opening and havingcounterbalancing outer enlarged portions, a pair of doors hinged to theyfront of the casing and also communicating with the two compartments,and a retainingplate hinged in the front of the casing and having anenlarged inwardly-extending upper margin and engaging at its bodyportion with one of said doors, substantially as set forth.

4. An improved mail-box comprising a suitable box or casing, a tubularroll-receptacle, and a hinged front door carrying a cap for covering oneend of the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

5. An improved mail-box comprising a suit-v able casing, a pair of doors`hingedat the front of the casing, a pair of tubular roll-rc'- ceptaclessecured to opposite sides of the box, and caps or covers attached tosaid doors and arranged to close the ends of the tubular receptacles,substantially as set forth. y

6. An improved mail-box comprising a suitable box or casing, a doorhinged at the front of the casing, a tubular roll-receptacle provided atone end with'a longitudinal recess and having also an internal liangeformed with an inclined outerside, and a cap or cover secured to thedoor and arranged to close the end of the tubular receptacle,substantially 'as set forth.

7. An improved mail-box comprising a suitable casing, a pair of holderssecured to opposite sides of the upper part of said casing, and a springextending across the top of the casing and normally pressed downwardthereon and havingcoiled end portions and having also its extremitiesinserted into said holders, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.EMERY B. GRIFFIN. Witnesses: l

JNO. T. JOHNSON, C. C. KING.

TOO

ITO

